Page 56 of Waiting for Acceptance (Nashville Nights #5)

FITZ

Of all the reasons I imagined Lauren was so nervous about going to her parents house, them being rich assholes who don’t know what an amazing person their daughter is definitely didn’t make the list. I’ve never seen her cry, not like that at least. It makes me want to march back in there and punch her dad in the nose, but instead, I focus on her.

The way she stares out the window as I drive her car back to her house, how I hear her sniffle every now and then before trying to hide the fact that she’s still wiping her tears away.

I can’t park the car fast enough and pull her door open, scooping her into my arms before she can even put her foot on the ground.

“What are you doing?” There’s no giggle in her tone, or mischief in her eyes. Just a gray version of who she usually is as I approach her front porch.

“Do you trust me?” I ask, placing her feet on the ground and unlocking her door.

“Yes.” I take her hand and guide her inside, closing and locking the door behind us.

I toss her keys on the entryway table and she kicks off her shoes, so I do the same.

Then I lead her into her bedroom, and stop her at the far corner of the bed, angling her to face her massive, full body mirror that’s propped up against the wall.

I walk behind her, watching as her eyes stay locked on me.

“Look at yourself.” Her eyes glisten and she shakes her head no. “Yes.” She takes a sharp breath and finally moves her gaze to her own reflection.

“Tell me what you see.” Tears stream down her cheeks again, and I can see the plea in her eyes not to make her do this.

“Failure. Disappointment. Never good enough.” Every word out of her mouth is like a knife in my heart. I run my hands along the length of her arms, pressing my nose into her hair, inhaling her scent to center myself.

“Let’s fix that.” I kiss her head and she sniffles.

“Tell me something you’ve done that made you feel successful.”

“I don’t know.” She sobs, and it’s taking everything in me to stay on task.

“Think.”

“I bought my own house.” She shrugs and I smile.

“Good, what else? Name as many as you can think of.”

“I helped Tank and Ruby buy a house before they brought Poe home. I’ve done that for a lot of families, actually. I’ve been the top sales agent at Coleson for three months straight.”

“Success. Not failure.”

“Tell me something you’ve done that you’re proud of.”

“Planned Tank and Ruby’s wedding in two days. Helped Amy figure out what season she is.” I have no idea what the hell that means, but I’m not interrupting the process to ask. “Planning your birthday surprise.” Her eyes find mine again, and I smile, nodding for her to look at herself again.

“Satisfaction. Not disappointment.”

“Tell me something that makes you feel confident.” Her lip quivers and she rolls her eyes in frustration. “Don’t be embarrassed. Anything that makes you feel confident. Anything at all.”

“Knowing I can take care of myself and Ginny. Putting together the perfect outfit or getting my hair or makeup just right on the first try.” She turns around to look me in the eye. “ You .”

My heart bursts wide open as I look into her sad eyes, so full of truth and longing. “What?” I ask in disbelief.

“You make me feel most confident, Fitz. Anytime I’m with you, I feel invincible.”

“I want you to feel that way every single day. You are successful, without the help of anyone else. You bring so much joy and satisfaction to so many people’s lives, you have every right to feel proud of yourself.

And you are the best person I’ve ever met in my life, the world doesn’t deserve you, Sweetheart.

You are more than enough, and I need you to start believing it.

” She reaches up and kisses me, and I completely melt into her touch.

It’s soft and desperate like she just wants to make this moment last.

Her hands move to slide my jacket off my arms, pulling at the hem of my T-shirt as soon as it’s on the ground.

I move away from her long enough to pull it over my head, then I pull her dress over her head before my lips are back on hers.

She moves to unbutton my pants and when her hand slides into my underwear, wrapping her cool, slender fingers around my cock, it pulses in her grip.

I reach behind her and unhook her bra, desperate to have her completely naked.

When she steps back to drop her bra, she keeps my gaze as she slides her panties down her beautiful, tan legs.

I follow suit, letting my pants and boxers fall to the ground, taking a step towards her.

Those baby blue eyes are locked on mine, and as much as I love her looking at me, I want her to know she’s the focus tonight.

So I turn her back around to face the mirror.

“Do you even realize how fucking perfect you are?” I trail kisses from her neck all the way down her shoulder, moving in front of her to continue my path along her breasts and stomach. When I’m tongue level with her pussy, her fingers glide through my hair, and her legs part, inviting me in.

On my knees for her, I lift one of her legs over my shoulder, holding her steady by the grip I have on her thigh and ass.

She moans when my tongue splits her entrance and the taste of her has me starved for more.

I kiss and suck her clit into my mouth, plunging my tongue inside her tight cunt, until I can feel her dripping down my throat and chin.

I’m so hard my cock is actually aching to be inside her.

I fist it and pump a few times, trying to find just an ounce of relief.

I hear her moan at about the same time and I look up only to find her watching me.

“Like what you see, Trouble?” She bites her lip and nods. I circle my tongue on her clit, increasing my speed until her legs are shaking and her fingers are gripping my hair so tight it stings my scalp.

“Yes, yes, yes. YES!” Her thighs squeeze around my head and I suck her clit again, making her scream. I stroke myself again as I slide her leg off my shoulder, standing to face her.

“Such a sweet pussy.” Her cheeks are flushed and I love the way she smiles at me.

I pull her up by her thighs, her legs wrapping around my waist, as I carry her a few steps to the bed.

I lay her gently on her back, her legs never unhooking from around me, and I line myself up to her entrance, pressing into her slowly.

Her eyes are on mine as she sucks in a breath and it’s at this moment, I know with a hundred percent certainty, I never want to look into anyone else’s.

I lean down and take her lips in mine, loving the way she opens up, allowing our kiss to deepen.

With every concentrated thrust, every swipe of her tongue, I’m falling further and further into her orbit.

I don’t want to be anywhere but here, with her, surrounded by her, inside of her.

My need for her grows stronger, and while I hoped I could keep things gentle for her, and show her just how precious she is to me, I can’t hold back any longer.

I bite her neck as I thrust harder, hitting deeper just the way she likes it, as her nails dig into my back.

“Fuck,” I mumble into her hair, fucking her like I’m trying to meld our bodies into one.

“Vince.” She whispers my name like a prayer and I’d absolutely bleed myself dry to ensure she never stops saying it. I lean up, grabbing her chin to turn her face towards the other side of the room.

“Look at us,” I demand. “If you didn’t see anything else in our reflection tonight, I want to make sure you see this.”

Thrust.

“How desperate I am for you.”

Thrust.

“How well you take me.”

Thrust.

“How absolutely incredible you are. Tell me you see it.” She nods her head, keeping her eyes on the mirror. “Tell me.” She looks back up at me, her eyes falling to my lips before they meet mine again with a vulnerability I never thought I would see in them.

“I see it,” she whispers.

I smirk at her and grip her hips. “I’m so proud of you.

” I let go of any and all control with her, bending down to kiss her again, palming her breast, pinching her nipple until her back arches into me.

Then I move my hand between us, lifting up to watch her face be completely overtaken with pleasure as I circle her swollen clit with my thumb.

“Vince! Oh my god, don’t stop. Please!” I see tears fall from the corners of her eyes as her hands grip the sheets. Her walls tighten around me and her body is writhing as I continue chasing my release, ensuring she enjoys every second of hers.

“That’s it, cry for me, baby.” Just as another orgasm causes her back to fly off the bed, I come so hard I can’t fucking see straight.

The only sound in the room is our labored breathing, and sweat is covering my entire body when I tuck her hair behind her ears, drying the remnants of her tears.

“The only time I want to see tears filling those pretty blue eyes is from me making you feel so fucking good you can’t help it.

Not for anything or anyone else.” A hint of a smile plays at her lips.

“You are Lauren. Fucking. Long. Incomparable to all others. I want you to remember that the next time anyone tries to make you feel inferior.”